The 6-5 guard, chosen 15th overall in the first round in 2007 out of Eastern Washington, broke his hand in the final preseason game. He didn't play his first game until Dec. 21 and didn't start playing major minutes until late March, averaging 11.8 points, 3.7 assists and 3.2 rebounds over the final 11 game of the regular season -- 7.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2.3 rebounds for the season. But during that final month and during the playoffs, he became an impact player -- matching up with either Rip Hamilton or Chauncey Billups in the backcourt.

Occasionally, all three would be in the game. He was particularly special in some playoff games, with at least 13 points in five of the final 11 games, and averaged 9.8 points and 22.5 minutes in the six-game loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.

This is definitely the conventional wisdom of thought in the NBA zeitgeist. Stuckey could be on the verge of a break-out season that elevates him into one of the best young guards in the NBA. Emphasis on "could", because the young combo guard has not had the consistent big minutes to give fans and pundits assurances that he is what he seems to be.

Others on this list are as follows: Devin Harris, Marvin Williams, Rajon Rondo, Joakim Noah, Al Thornton, Jordan Farmar, Thaddeus Young, Brandan Wright and Sebastian Telfair. Thad Young will no doubt benefit from the addition of Elton Brand to the 76ers frontcourt and looks to be one of the most exciting players on the list. Here is what Fox Sports writes about Young.

8.

Thaddeus Young, F, Philadelphia 76ers

Barely 20, few rookies a year ago came on to help their teams advance as much as the 6-7, 210-pound Young did. The Sixers were one of the great stories of the season from the end of January right into their surprising six-game series with the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs, and Young was right in the middle of it. He started the final 22 games of the regular season and the six playoff games.

He averaged 10.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals in just less than 27 minutes a game against the Pistons, and in the final 22 regular-season games he contributed 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.14 steals. Young is never going to be a dominant player, but a fine all-around player that will make everyone around him better and be solid on both ends of the floor. And on a team that will start Elton Brand, Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert with him, he is the perfect complement as a fundamentally sound player doing the little things to win.

{Thanks to MLive reader Steve G. for providing the email that lead to this entry.}